Environmental Health The Food and Safety team participated in the Food Standards Agency’s Christmas Food Safety campaign giving advice to residents and businesses about eating safely over the Christmas period.

Environmental Services The winter maintenance program is now in operation and the shrubs and hedges will be getting their winter prune.

Environmental Services (Direct Services) Town Centre Warden Patrols The twice a day town centre warden patrols are continuing to have an impact on the small amount of Anti-Social Behaviour that takes place. They are regularly moving on rough sleepers, beggars and drinkers and have also assisted in a few arrests for shoplifting and a seller of dodgy mobile phones. They are continuing to build close relationships with the local businesses and are giving advice to them on how best to manage their trade waste, which can be a problem in the town centre at times.

Fish Stocks at Abington Park Main Lake Abington Angling Club in partnership with the Council has been successful in restocking the main lake with 3000 F1 Carp (small fish). This was achieved through our joint application to the Environment Agency.

As you will be aware it is the 90th Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen on 21st April. In the lead up to this all the country’s litter charities have come together to organise a campaign to inspire a million people to take action and enjoy a few hours litter-picking to make the places where we live more beautiful. Northampton Borough Council is supporting this initiative and I want encourage all members to get involved themselves and to encourage residents and community groups to participate. The main focus of the event is a monumental litter clean up over the weekend 4th – 6th March. Neighbourhood Wardens and Park Rangers will support members in coordinating events. There are already a number of events organised and we are aware that many community organisations are keen to get involved. The One Stop Shop at The Guildhall will be a collection hub where people who have registered to take part in Clean for the Queen can collect supplies of the litter picking sacks for the event.

Councillor Alan Bottwood Cabinet Member for Environment